https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. The Orionids—one of two major meteor showers caused by remnants from Halley's Comet—will peak this week, though a large moon will dim visibility until after it sets late at night. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-orionid-meteor-shower.html Space Exploration Tue, 20 Oct 2026 14:30:01 EDT news711722869 The surface of the moon is a bleak and forbidding place that could be hiding a lot of water ice within its dusty landscape. However, most possible ice deposits don't just stand out in an image. Scientists need specialized mapping to find those deposits, so they have devised another way to find the moon's frosty hidden reserves. They use seismic waves from moonquakes as locator beacons. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-moonquakes-reveal-lunar-ice-future.html Space Exploration Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:40:05 EDT news705735495 The Perseid summer light show is back—and viewing conditions are especially promising for the Northern Hemisphere. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-perseid-meteor-shower-summer-dazzle.html Space Exploration Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:52:39 EDT news705505929 For the first time in more than a century, a total solar eclipse is coming to mainland Spain with an even longer encore next summer. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-august-total-solar-eclipse-spain.html Space Exploration Mon, 03 Aug 2026 03:12:40 EDT news704945507 A giant mirror to create "sunlight on demand" was just approved by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), despite opposition from astronomers and the public, and real safety concerns. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-giant-space-mirror-sunlight-demand.html Space Exploration Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:07:02 EDT news703159573 Life on Earth took a long evolutionary journey that eventually created us, the purportedly intelligent species that dominates the planet. But there was no grand plan or design, only happenstance, nature and luck. Life on Earth suffered multiple extinctions, but got up, dusted itself off and continued on its long march to complexity. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-gravitational-tides-earth-extinctions.html Planetary Sciences Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:00:01 EDT news701516829 For decades, astronomers and policymakers have been working on plans to protect our planet from killer asteroids. But now there's a new realm to protect: the thousands of satellites we're putting in orbit. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-happy-asteroid-day-prize-focuses.html Planetary Sciences Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:40:10 EDT news701432762 Have you ever been out at night and seen a streak of light blast across the sky and disappear? Ever wonder where that shooting star came from, or how it got to be in your sky? https://phys.org/news/2026-06-asteroid-comet-meteor-meteorite-streaking.html Astronomy Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:40:05 EDT news700833900 A sonic boom shook Boston and the larger New England area with the force of 230 tons of TNT. The source came from outer space. The Saturday afternoon event triggered shock waves online, with thousands inquiring what could have caused houses to shake and a sound heard as far away as New Hampshire and Rhode Island. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-meteors-extremely-common-england-rare.html Planetary Sciences Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:20:03 EDT news699785941 The Eta Aquarid meteor shower soon will light the sky with debris from Halley's comet. But a bright moon will spoil the fun this year, making the display harder to glimpse. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-bright-moon-dim-eta-aquarid.html Space Exploration Sun, 03 May 2026 06:40:22 EDT news697009166 Early May is a good time to watch for a powerful yet often elusive meteor shower, the annual Eta Aquariids. They're a prolific, yet often elusive for northern hemisphere observers. If skies are clear, watch for a strong annual meteor shower that's attained an almost mythical status: the May Eta Aquariids. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-elusive-eta-aquariid-meteors.html Astronomy Fri, 01 May 2026 09:40:04 EDT news696843662 Across Earth, every night, thousands of automated stargazers are waiting to take pictures of shooting stars. I am one of the scientists who study these meteors. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-sun-asteroid-pieces-earth-flying.html Planetary Sciences Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:40:04 EDT news695298482 Still aglow from their triumphant lunar flyby, the Artemis II astronauts made more history Tuesday: calling their friends aboard the International Space Station hundreds of thousands of miles away as they headed home from the moon. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-artemis-ii-astronauts-distance-space.html Space Exploration Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:12:49 EDT news694840292 The Earth is under assault. Space rocks are constantly hurtling toward us, slamming into the atmosphere and often exploding into fireballs that both delight and alarm. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-common-fireballs-streaking-sky.html Space Exploration Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:30:03 EDT news693058829 Here's one less thing to worry about—or to look forward to: NASA has ruled out any chance that an asteroid called 2024 YR4 will hit the moon in 2032. Last year, the uncertainty surrounding the space rock's orbital path held out a slight chance of impact, but fresh observations from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope confirm that it'll be a miss. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-nasa-asteroid-smashup-moon.html Planetary Sciences Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:46:34 EST news692012709 Back in the earlier days of the internet, there was a viral video from a creator called Bill Wurtz called "the history of the entire world, i guess" which spawned a number of memorable memes, some of which are still in use to this day. One of those was a clip from the video where Wurtz states, "The sun is a deadly laser." https://phys.org/news/2026-01-dark-asteroids-die.html Astronomy Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:58:19 EST news687711481 The night sky has long sparked wonder and curiosity. Early civilizations studied the stars and tracked celestial events, predicted eclipses and used their observations to construct calendars, develop maps and formulate religious rituals. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-rural-areas-darker-skies-resources.html Education Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:24:35 EST news687533041 What will we see in the southern sky in 2026? A total eclipse of the moon (at a convenient time), a blue moon and a supermoon, the two brightest planets close together, and Jupiter disappearing behind the moon in the daytime. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-red-moon-blue-supermoon-southern.html Astronomy Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:18:36 EST news687003481 The year's first supermoon and meteor shower will sync up in January skies, but the light from one may dim the other. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-year-meteor-shower-supermoon-clash.html Space Exploration Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:01:02 EST news686314828 The moon and sun share top billing in 2026. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-moon-sun-figure-big-year.html Space Exploration Mon, 29 Dec 2025 07:41:49 EST news686216460 The last major meteor shower of the year, known as the Ursids, peaks soon, bringing glowing streaks to nighttime and early morning skies. Compared to other meteor showers, it's more subdued, but experts say it's still worth a glimpse. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-ursid-meteor-shower-peaks-christmas.html Space Exploration Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:20:01 EST news685278649 On 12 December 2025 at 03:09:36 UTC, astronomers at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) have captured what is believed to be the first video recording of a lunar impact flash in Ireland, and the second recorded from the UK. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-video-lunar-impact-moon-armagh.html Space Exploration Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:16:32 EST news685016162 One of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year reaches its peak this week—giving skywatchers the chance to see up to 100 "shooting stars" an hour under perfect conditions. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-video-geminid-meteor-shower.html Astronomy Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:05:36 EST news684587102 It's time for one of the strongest meteor showers of the year. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-year-meteor-showers-geminids.html Space Exploration Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:30:42 EST news684509405 Stargazers across the United States are in for a treat this weekend as the annual Leonids meteor shower lights up the night sky. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-leonids-meteor-shower-celestial.html Space Exploration Mon, 17 Nov 2025 09:14:33 EST news682593267 On Sunday November 2, people in eastern Victoria witnessed a bright streak across the sky followed by a loud sonic boom that felt like an earthquake. The event was captured by security cameras and mobile phones. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-meteorite-space-experts.html Planetary Sciences Thu, 13 Nov 2025 19:50:02 EST news682256462 Every year, the Taurid meteor shower lights up the night sky from late October through early November. Sometimes called the "Halloween fireballs," they are named for the constellation Taurus—the bull—from which the meteors appear to radiate. The shower is best viewed from dark-sky locations. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-halloween-fireballs-cosmic-impact-airburst.html Astronomy Thu, 30 Oct 2025 06:28:05 EDT news681024482 Humanity's drive to explore has taken us across the solar system, with astronaut boots, various landers and rovers' wheels exploring the surfaces of several different planetary bodies. These environments are generally hostile to human and equipment health, so designing and executing these missions requires a lot of planning, testing and technological development. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-space-exploration-backyard-nasa-simulates.html Space Exploration Tue, 21 Oct 2025 03:00:01 EDT news680191159 The Orionids—one of two major meteor showers caused by remnants from Halley's comet—will peak with the arrival of a new moon, providing an excellent opportunity to see shooting stars without interference from moonlight. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-orionid-meteor-shower-debris-halley.html Space Exploration Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:29:20 EDT news679922956 Stargazers and meteor enthusiasts across North America could be treated to a spectacular light show under the right conditions during this week's "Draconid shower." https://phys.org/news/2025-10-skies-week-draconid-meteor-shower.html Astronomy Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:04:03 EDT news679125841